Fishing in Georgia

Vacationers can plan for an exceptional day of Georgia fishing in the numerous rivers located throughout the state. Whether your plans include fly fishing or trout fishing in Georgia, the rivers and streams winding their way throughout the state offer a variety of opportunities for a good catch.

For those interested in learning about Georgia fly fishing, professional guide services are available to teach beginners the basics or help experienced anglers hone their skills. Guides will teach you about the best lures, bait, poles, and casting techniques to use to ensure a productive day of fishing.

There are many options for where to go; for instance, in the Chattahoochee National Forest, close to 4,000 miles of clear, cool creeks and pools are available for Georgia fly fishing. In addition, the Flint River is on the western coast of Georgia, and here vacationing fly fishing anglers will find the river and its rocky shoals home to the shoal bass and red-breasted sunfish. The Flint River is an hour's drive from the Atlanta airport and is easily accessible from many Atlanta hotels as well.

Areas for rainbow, brook, and brown trout fishing in Georgia include Jacks River and Conasauga River, both located in the Cohutta Wilderness Area. The Chattooga River, designated as a wild and scenic river, is known for its churning whitewaters and rafting enthusiasts and as a prime Georgia fly fishing location.

Georgia fishing opportunities also abound in the Chattahoochee River, both in the lower section of the river in Atlanta and the upper portion in Helen. The cold mountain waters are ideal for wild rainbow and brown trout. Dick's Creek, near Cleveland, is also one of the most popular streams in Georgia for anglers because it is well stocked during trout fishing season. Because many areas of the creek are not easily accessible, the creek produces large wild trout.

The Upper Toccoa River headwaters begin in Union County in north Georgia and make their way through 30 miles of private land, rapids, and the Chattahoochee National Forest before reaching Lake Blue Ridge. The Toccoa River is stocked heavily with rainbow trout, brown trout along with small-mouthed bass. On the east coast near Augusta, Clarks Hill Lake, comprising 71,535 acres, is one of the largest inland bodies of water in the South, and it is noted as one of the best bass fishing areas in Georgia. Along with largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfish reside in the lake.

A Georgia fishing license and a trout fishing license are required for all out-of-state residents and are available for purchase through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, licensing agents, and online. If you plan to visit a Georgia State Park for fishing, a trout license is not required as long as you fish in designated impounded waters within the park.

Equally important to having the appropriate Georgia fishing license is knowing the local regulations, including trout stream and fishing rules, minimum length limits, hours when fishing is permitted, rules regarding artificial lures, and the number of fish you are allowed to catch per stream. Trout fishing in Georgia officially begins the last Saturday in March and runs through October 31. The streams are designated as to whether they are available for fishing year-round or only during trout season, but whenever you go, the opportunities for Georgia fishing are sure to be excellent.